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GCA makes changes to handle increased enrollment

DREW BRACKEN
Published 12:04 a.m. ET Sept. 14, 2016

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Second-graders at Granville Christian Academy work on computers in the Learning Resource Center that was once the library. Due to increased enrollment, the school now has two second grade classes and had to make space for the students.(Photo: Jessica Phelps/The Advocate)Buy Photo

GRANVILLE - Enrollment is up at Granville Christian Academy and that’s prompting some changes at the school.

“A former computer lab is now a second grade classroom,” said GCA Superintendent Timothy Barrett. “And an office/storage area is now a small classroom for our reading specialist.”

To staff the changes school administrators filled a second grade opening from within, and they hired an additional mathematics teacher for grades 7-9.

It’s all because there are 326 students at the school this year compared to 308 last year. There are a few reasons for that, according to Barrett, such as an active effort to promote the school.

“We did reach out to both public and private pre-schools with literature on GCA this past winter and spring, targeting enrollment for kindergarten,” he said. “We also had an area pastor’s breakfast to share the GCA story with them.”

Another reason for the increase, Barrett added, is because families are often drawn to private school education.

“That’s for a host of reasons — smaller class sizes, higher academic achievement, or simply an alternative to public schools,” he clarified. “And while some of our parents may have enrolled their children for these reasons, I believe the overwhelming majority have chosen GCA for another reason.”

“The evidence I see for growth here at GCA,” he continued, “is our intentional Christian commitment as described in our mission and lived out here on a daily basis.”

“In addition to that,” added Gary Kirkpatrick,” there’s a shift that’s coming back to small town America.”

Kirkpatrick is an associate pastor at Spring Hills Baptist Church as well as the spiritual life director at the school.

“I believe,” Kirkpatrick continued, “there are people looking at the situation in the country and they want a return to biblical values, a return to the conservative side of education that perhaps they experienced when they were younger, or maybe they heard from others in their family that are older.”

“I really believe,” he added, “we’re seeing an influx of families wanting to engage because our country is going through trying times and they can see this, being God’s agenda, God’s plan for people, is truly where we need to be headed.”

That, Barrett responded, pretty much dovetails with a final reason for the growth: positive word of mouth.

“Primarily parents and grandparents have shared the positive atmosphere and the good things going on with their children and grandchildren here at GCA,” he said. “The good news travels through word of mouth personalized in the lives of students and their families.”

Granville Christian Academy recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary. The school was started by the late Jeff Pound, the senior pastor at Spring Hills Baptist Church, and his wife Cathy.